Cigarette filter

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns an at least partially transparent cigarette filter tipping film comprising a biodegradable substrate, and softener in an amount of less than 25% by weight of the biodegradable substrate, and a cigarette filter comprising a filtration material encased in a cylinder of the said tipping film.

FIELD

The present application concerns a cigarette filter having a filtration material and a tipping film, more particularly a biodegradable tipping film with excellent physical properties, in particular with regard to elongation, tensile strength and shrinkage, but also as far as flatness and tube/curl are concerned.

BACKGROUND

There is a current demand for cigarette tipping films which are transparent, allowing the smoker to view the effectiveness of the filter material enclosed within the tipping film.

Certain biodegradable substrates have been considered for use as cigarette tipping films. However, because of stringent demands in the tobacco industry with regard to the chemical make up of tipping films, and also with regard to their physical properties, there is a need to provide an improved form of tipping film which is substantially free from certain specified contaminants and which has excellent properties as far as elongation, tensile strength, shrinkage, flatness and tube/curl are concerned. In particular, the mechanical tolerances of any such film must be carefully controlled in order to allow the film satisfactorily to be deployed in the machinery used by the tobacco industry to wrap tipping papers around filter tips. Because of the relatively small size of the unit film, and the necessity for it to be tightly and neatly wound on the filter, it has proved difficult to develop a filmic material, particularly one with other desirable qualities such as biodegradability and transparency to meet these criteria.

The present invention seeks to address these issues.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the present invention there is provided an at least partially transparent cigarette filter tipping film comprising a biodegradable substrate, and softener in an amount of less than 25% by weight of the biodegradable substrate.

The biodegradable substrate is selected from biodegradable substrates, PLA substrates, starch based polymers, hydroxyalkanoates and other biopolymers, but is preferably a cellulosic substrate.

The invention also provides a cigarette filter comprising a filtration material encased in a cylinder of aforesaid tipping film.

Preferably the tipping film is at least mostly transparent so that the filtration material can be viewed through the tipping film.

Preferably the softener is present in the tipping film in an amount of less than 24% by weight, more preferably less than 21% by weight and most preferably less than 18% by weight of the biodegradable substrate.

The softener may be selected from any suitable material, but is preferably selected from glycerol, propane-1,2-diol, and any other suitable softener selected from the German Tobacco Ordnance (TVO) list, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, and an English translation of which is reproduced as appendix 1 hereto, and combinations of two or more thereof.

The tipping film itself will generally be cast and then wound onto a reel prior to eventual unwinding and slitting for use as a cigarette tipping film. In order to allow the film to be wound onto a reel without sticking to itself, the substrate is preferably provided with an antiblock/winding aid additive. When present the antiblock/winding aid additive is preferably provided in an amount of less than about 0.5%, more preferably less than about 0.4, even more preferably less than about 0.3 and most preferably less than about 0.2% by weight of the biodegradable substrate.

The antiblock/winding aid when present may be selected from any suitable material, but is preferably selected from amorphous silica, polyethylene glycol, and any other suitable antiblock/winding agent selected from the TVO list, and combinations of two or more thereof.

We have surprisingly found that by careful selection of the quantity of softening agent in the tipping film, and in preferred embodiments of the invention of the type of softening agent in the tipping film, certain problems exhibited in the art with reference to conventional biodegradable substrates can be avoided. For example, certain conventional biodegradable substrates which would otherwise be suitable as tipping films have been found to be too easily elongated—a property which causes problems in the machinery commonly used in the tobacco industry for rolling tipping materials around cigarette filters. Certain conventional biodegradable substrates have been found to be insufficiently flat, to exhibit unacceptable levels of curl, to lack sufficient tensile strength and/or to be too elastic, to be too susceptible to shrinkage and/or to have inadequate optical properties.

The tipping films of the invention preferably exhibit an elongation in the machine direction of less than 15%, more preferably less than 13% and most preferably less than 11% when subjected to standard testing conditions referred to herein in the Examples.

The tipping films of the invention exhibit excellent properties with regard to flatness and tube/curl. Preferably the tipping films of the invention exhibit a flatness of less than about 4 cm, preferably less than 3 cm and exhibit a tube/curl of less than 45°, preferably 0° once wound (Flatness is measured by placing a 6 m length of cast film on a flatness table and pulling the film until tight. Flatness is measured by using graduated rulers, the results are recorded as, Flatness (cm)=Centre reading (cm)−Edge reading (cm). Tube/curl Is measured by hanging approx. 600 mm of cast film from a suspended mill roll, strips are cut in the machine direction 100 mm apart across the width of the roll, film is left to stand for 15-20 seconds, visual checks for tube and curl are made and results are recorded in degrees.

It may also be important to maintain the tensile strength of the tipping film in order to allow satisfactory machinability of the film. Preferably the tipping films of the invention exhibit a tensile strength in the machine direction of more than 140 MPa, more preferably more than 150 MPa and most preferably more than 155 MPa when subjected to standard testing conditions referred to herein in the Examples.

It may also be important to maintain the elasticity of the tipping film in order to allow satisfactory machinability of the film. Preferably the tipping films of the invention exhibit a Young's Modulus in the machine direction of more than 4000 MPa, more preferably more than 5000 MPa and most preferably more than 5500 MPa when subjected to standard testing conditions referred to herein in the Examples.

It may also be important to ensure that the tipping films of the invention do not exhibit too high a shrinkage, in order to allow satisfactory machinability of the film. Preferably the tipping films of the invention exhibit a shrinkage under tropical conditions in the machine and/or transverse directions of less than 5%, more preferably less than 4% and most preferably less than 3.75% when subjected to standard testing conditions referred to herein in the Examples.

It may also be important to maintain the optical properties of the tipping film. Preferably the tipping films of the invention exhibit a Haze of less than 2.15, more preferably less than 2.10 and most preferably less than 2.05 when subjected to standard testing conditions referred to herein in the Examples. Preferably the tipping films of the invention exhibit a Gloss of more than 98, more preferably more than 99 and most preferably more than 100 when subjected to standard testing conditions referred to herein in the Examples.

Examples

A 28 μm film of regenerated cellulose was cast from solution under standard conditions and in the presence of a glycerol softener in an amount of approximately 12% by weight and an amorphous silica antiblock in an amount of approximately 0.1% by weight. Any other additives and components of the film were present in standard quantities, and selected from the TVO list.

Five samples of the film, and a comparative sample containing approximately 20% by weight softener (25% softener by weight of cellulosic substrate) were subjected to physical testing in accordance with BS2782-3, as amended by BS1133 to determine Secant 1%, Tensile Strength, Elongation, Load and Youngs Modulus.

The results are presented below in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Machine Direction Transverse Direction Secant Tensile Youngs Secant Tensile Youngs 1% Strength Elongation Modulus 1% Strength Elongation Modulus EG code (MPa) (MPa) % Load (N) (MPa) (MPa) (MPa) % Load (N) (MPa) 1 252892 7010 163 7.036 105.8 6782 5870 114 11.5 74.07 4186 2 252904 7470 179 12.48 120.8 7095 4190 104 31.8 70.14 4175 3 252908 7550 164 8.913 111 7523 3980 106 35.48 71.27 3952 4 252922 6830 175 12.75 118.3 6404 4650 109 39.75 73.73 4477 5 252930 7420 181 14.02 122.3 7070 7870 179 12 120.6 7275 Av. 6703 168 10.22 112.41 6471 5100 117 24.65 78.29 4670 6 comp. 5160 153 19.47 101.20 4929 2010 65 46.64 43.26 2020

It will be seen that the films of Examples 1 to 5 exhibit considerably less elongation than the comparative example, a property which facilitates the compatibility of such films with conventional industrial plant for the manufacture of cigarette tipping films.

The films were further subjected to Coefficient of Friction (COF) measurement in accordance with ASTMD1894. The results are shown below in Table 2:

TABLE 2 A-A Sample Static Dynamic 1 0.499 0.415 2 0.605 0.473 3 0.557 0.463 4 0.589 0.497 5 0.565 0.483 6 Comparative 0.603 0.493

It will be seen that the films of Examples 1 to 5 exhibit acceptable COF properties in relation to the comparative example.

The films were further subjected to optical characterization as follows:

Haze was measured in accordance with ASTMD 1003

Gloss was measured in accordance with ASTM D2457

The results are shown below in Tables 3a and 3b:

TABLE 3b Gloss 1 2 3 Ave 101.3 106.2 102.5 103.3 106.8 106.0 106.0 106.3 103.6 103.1 106.0 104.2 104.8 104.7 106.6 105.4 103.3 104.6 101.8 103.2 97.7 98.1 98.1 98.0

TABLE 3a Haze Sample 1 2 3 Ave 1 1.76 1.73 1.81 1.77 2 1.91 2.04 2.04 2.00 3 1.83 1.92 1.83 1.86 4 1.88 2.04 1.93 1.95 5 1.99 2.08 1.98 2.02 6 Comp. 2.15 2.16 2.19 2.17

It will be seen that the films of Examples 1 to 5 exhibit improved optical properties in relation to the comparative example.

The shrinkage properties of the films were investigated under tropical conditions (90% relative humidity at 38° C.), and the results are shown in Table 4:

TABLE 4 0 1 Results 3 Results 6 Results 10 Results 14 Results 28 Results 1 MD1 107.00 104.52 −2.32 104.87 −1.99 104.78 −2.07 103.01 −3.73 103.09 −3.65 103.80 −2.99 MD2 106.67 104.45 −2.08 104.49 −2.04 104.06 −2.45 103.04 −3.40 103.26 −3.20 103.56 −2.92 MD3 106.45 103.95 −2.35 104.14 −2.17 103.51 −2.76 102.87 −3.36 102.89 −3.34 102.87 −3.36 TD1 106.43 104.76 −1.57 104.28 −2.02 104.49 −1.82 103.82 −2.45 103.79 −2.48 104.19 −2.10 TD2 105.93 104.58 −1.27 104.12 −1.71 104.10 −1.73 103.33 −2.45 103.54 −2.26 103.72 −2.09 TD3 105.64 104.07 −1.49 103.77 −1.77 103.68 −1.86 103.00 −2.50 103.24 −2.27 102.68 −2.80 Ave MD 0.00 −2.25 −2.07 −2.43 −3.50 −3.40 −3.09 Ave TD 0.00 −1.44 −1.83 −1.80 −2.47 −2.34 −2.33 2 MD1 95.06 92.49 −2.70 92.62 −2.57 93.16 −2.00 92.76 −2.42 93.01 −2.16 92.46 −2.74 MD2 95.05 92.80 −2.37 92.53 −2.65 93.66 −1.46 92.97 −2.19 93.16 −1.99 93.12 −2.03 MD3 94.83 92.79 −2.15 92.72 −2.23 94.03 −0.84 93.46 −1.44 93.56 −1.34 93.12 −1.80 TD1 94.84 94.20 −0.67 94.07 −0.81 92.73 −2.22 91.88 −3.12 92.05 −2.94 91.69 −3.32 TD2 95.41 94.46 −1.00 94.04 −1.44 92.40 −3.15 91.84 −3.74 92.11 −3.46 91.97 −3.61 TD3 95.40 94.50 −0.94 94.38 −1.07 92.65 −2.88 92.43 −3.11 92.23 −3.32 91.97 −3.60 Ave MD 0.00 −2.41 −2.48 −1.43 −2.02 −1.83 −2.19 Ave TD 0.00 −0.87 −1.11 −2.75 −3.33 −3.24 −3.51 3 MD1 94.66 92.42 −2.37 92.17 −2.63 92.24 −2.56 91.37 −3.48 92.27 −2.52 91.74 −3.08 MD2 94.34 92.16 −2.31 92.14 −2.33 92.37 −2.09 91.30 −3.22 91.62 −2.88 91.53 −2.98 MD3 94.31 92.10 −2.34 91.96 −2.49 92.33 −2.10 91.95 −2.50 91.88 −2.58 91.70 −2.77 TD1 95.07 92.61 −2.59 92.72 −2.47 91.97 −3.26 91.88 −3.36 91.63 −3.62 91.97 −3.26 TD2 94.94 92.60 −2.46 92.24 −2.84 91.92 −3.18 91.22 −3.92 91.27 −3.87 91.52 −3.60 TD3 94.84 93.24 −1.69 92.85 −2.10 92.23 −2.75 91.42 −3.61 91.38 −3.65 91.82 −3.18 Ave MD 0.00 −2.34 −2.48 −2.25 −3.07 −2.66 −2.94 Ave TD 0.00 −2.25 −2.47 −3.06 −3.63 −3.71 −3.35 4 MD1 90.06 87.63 −2.70 87.60 −2.73 87.15 −3.23 86.96 −3.44 87.23 −3.14 86.99 −3.41 MD2 89.58 87.63 −2.18 87.83 −1.95 87.26 −2.59 87.21 −2.65 87.20 −2.66 87.20 −2.66 MD3 89.15 87.60 −1.74 87.39 −1.97 86.83 −2.60 86.79 −2.65 86.77 −2.67 86.96 −2.46 TD1 89.12 87.49 −1.83 87.65 −1.65 87.16 −2.20 86.67 −2.75 87.19 −2.17 86.66 −2.76 TD2 89.10 88.09 −1.13 87.85 −1.40 87.94 −1.30 87.62 −1.66 87.48 −1.82 87.48 −1.82 TD3 88.85 87.51 −1.51 87.17 −1.89 87.30 −1.74 86.36 −2.80 87.11 −1.96 86.58 −2.55 Ave MD 0.00 −2.20 −2.22 −2.81 −2.91 −2.82 −2.84 Ave TD 0.00 −1.49 −1.65 −1.75 −2.40 −1.98 −2.38 5 MD1 80.79 78.79 −2.48 79.13 −2.05 78.77 −2.50 78.19 −3.22 78.31 −3.07 78.49 −2.85 MD2 80.79 79.19 −1.98 79.06 −2.14 78.77 −2.50 78.35 −3.02 78.46 −2.88 78.37 −3.00 MD3 80.76 78.83 −2.39 79.00 −2.18 78.50 −2.80 78.41 −2.91 78.37 −2.96 78.64 −2.63 TD1 80.88 79.83 −1.30 79.80 −1.34 79.60 −1.58 79.20 −2.08 79.37 −1.87 79.26 −2.00 TD2 81.75 79.43 −2.84 79.95 −2.20 79.66 −2.56 78.86 −3.54 79.46 −2.80 79.48 −2.78 TD3 81.73 79.69 −2.50 80.09 −2.01 79.11 −3.21 79.12 −3.19 79.53 −2.69 79.52 −2.70 Ave MD 0.00 −2.28 −2.13 −2.60 −3.05 −2.97 −2.82 Ave TD 0.00 −2.21 −1.85 −2.45 −2.94 −2.45 −2.49 6 MD1 82.57 80.02 −3.09 79.50 −3.72 79.38 −3.86 78.55 −4.87 79.22 −4.06 79.10 −4.20 (comp) MD2 83.04 80.68 −2.84 80.64 −2.89 79.99 −3.67 79.95 −3.72 80.13 −3.50 80.13 −3.50 MD3 83.27 81.12 −2.58 81.11 −2.59 80.79 −2.98 80.35 −3.51 80.43 −3.41 80.28 −3.59 TD1 83.72 81.07 −3.17 81.16 −3.06 80.55 −3.79 80.28 −4.11 80.32 −4.06 80.11 −4.31 TD2 83.93 82.01 −2.29 81.59 −2.79 81.27 −3.17 80.56 −4.02 80.68 −3.87 80.37 −4.24 TD3 84.32 81.97 −2.79 82.04 −2.70 81.79 −3.00 81.01 −3.93 81.20 −3.70 81.21 −3.69 Ave MD 0.00 −2.84 −3.07 −3.50 −4.03 −3.66 −3.77 Ave TD 0.00 −2.75 −2.85 −3.32 −4.02 −3.88 −4.08

It will be seen that the films of Examples 1 to 5 exhibit improved shrinkage properties under tropical conditions in relation to the comparative example.

The shrinkage properties of the films were investigated under fridge conditions, and the results are shown in Table 5:

TABLE 5 0 1 Results 3 Results 6 Results 10 Results 14 Results 28 Results 1 MD1 109.56 109.26 −0.27 110.22 0.60 108.97 −0.54 107.82 −1.59 107.61 −1.78 108.18 −1.26 MD2 109.53 109.17 −0.33 109.95 0.38 108.86 −0.61 107.89 −1.50 107.42 −1.93 107.20 −2.13 MD3 109.23 109.18 −0.05 109.60 0.34 109.26 0.03 107.75 −1.35 107.99 −1.14 107.64 −1.46 TD1 106.28 104.19 −1.97 104.15 −2.00 103.64 −2.48 102.84 −3.24 103.13 −2.96 103.22 −2.88 TD2 107.31 104.87 −2.27 104.80 −2.34 104.17 −2.93 103.87 −3.21 103.20 −3.83 103.93 −3.15 TD3 107.42 105.66 −1.64 105.56 −1.73 105.00 −2.25 103.98 −3.20 103.69 −3.47 103.70 −3.46 Ave MD 0.00 −0.22 0.44 −0.37 −1.48 −1.61 −1.61 Ave TD 0.00 −1.96 −2.02 −2.55 −3.21 −3.42 −3.16 2 MD1 89.15 88.35 −0.90 87.78 −1.54 88.67 −0.54 87.20 −2.19 87.18 −2.21 86.46 −3.02 MD2 89.42 88.04 −1.54 87.74 −1.88 89.48 0.07 87.19 −2.49 87.13 −2.56 86.82 −2.91 MD3 89.02 88.54 −0.54 88.51 −0.57 89.20 0.20 88.03 −1.11 87.80 −1.37 87.56 −1.64 TD1 89.71 89.32 −0.43 89.05 −0.74 87.94 −1.97 88.34 −1.53 88.28 −1.59 87.79 −2.14 TD2 89.66 89.77 0.12 89.36 −0.33 87.65 −2.24 88.34 −1.47 88.61 −1.17 87.60 −2.30 TD3 89.15 89.92 0.86 89.12 −0.03 88.55 −0.67 88.52 −0.71 88.60 −0.62 87.52 −1.83 Ave MD 0.00 −0.99 −1.33 −0.09 −1.93 −2.05 −2.52 Ave MD 0.00 0.18 −0.37 −1.63 −1.24 −1.13 −2.09 3 MD1 94.66 93.62 −1.10 93.67 −1.05 92.92 −1.84 92.60 −2.18 92.67 −2.10 92.11 −2.69 MD2 94.34 93.24 −1.17 92.76 −1.67 92.59 −1.85 92.20 −2.27 92.02 −2.46 91.79 −2.70 MD3 94.31 93.19 −1.19 92.37 −2.06 92.21 −2.23 91.60 −2.87 91.67 −2.80 91.54 −2.94 TD1 95.07 95.10 0.03 95.59 0.55 95.20 0.14 94.34 −0.77 94.43 −0.67 94.02 −1.10 TD2 94.94 94.91 −0.03 95.51 0.60 95.28 0.36 94.32 −0.65 94.31 −0.66 93.64 −1.37 TD3 94.84 95.15 0.33 95.45 0.64 95.25 0.43 94.26 −0.61 94.25 −0.62 93.71 −1.19 Ave MD 0.00 −1.15 −1.59 −1.97 −2.44 −2.45 −2.78 Ave TD 0.00 0.11 0.60 0.31 −0.68 −0.65 −1.22 4 MD1 82.21 80.15 −2.51 80.20 −2.44 79.55 −3.24 79.45 −3.36 79.78 −2.96 79.42 −3.39 MD2 81.97 80.75 −1.49 80.74 −1.50 80.55 −1.73 79.93 −2.49 79.83 −2.61 79.81 −2.64 MD3 82.31 81.09 −1.48 81.41 −1.09 81.07 −1.51 80.56 −2.13 80.60 −2.08 80.53 −2.16 TD1 82.76 82.33 −0.52 82.87 0.13 82.59 −0.21 81.64 −1.35 81.71 −1.27 81.47 −1.56 TD2 82.79 82.55 −0.29 82.59 −0.24 83.02 0.28 82.19 −0.72 82.03 −0.92 81.99 −0.97 TD3 82.85 83.16 0.37 83.55 0.84 83.00 0.18 82.60 −0.30 81.97 −1.06 81.78 −1.29 Ave MD 0.00 −1.83 −1.68 −2.16 −2.66 −2.55 −2.73 Ave TD 0.00 −0.15 0.25 0.08 −0.79 −1.08 −1.27 5 MD1 82.28 81.32 −1.17 81.24 −1.26 81.23 −1.28 80.91 −1.67 80.71 −1.91 80.74 −1.87 MD2 82.70 81.99 −0.86 81.54 −1.40 81.21 −1.80 80.90 −2.18 80.86 −2.22 80.69 −2.43 MD3 81.27 81.11 −0.20 81.22 −0.06 81.17 −0.12 80.82 −0.55 80.94 −0.41 80.14 −1.39 TD1 82.17 81.67 −0.61 82.26 0.11 81.97 −0.24 81.00 −1.42 80.97 −1.46 80.14 −2.47 TD2 82.16 82.16 0.00 81.94 −0.27 81.93 −0.28 80.76 −1.70 80.73 −1.74 80.75 −1.72 TD3 81.73 81.45 −0.34 82.23 0.61 81.29 −0.54 80.57 −1.42 80.45 −1.57 80.36 −1.68 Ave MD 0.00 −0.74 −0.91 −1.07 −1.47 −1.51 −1.90 Ave TD 0.00 −0.32 0.15 −0.35 −1.52 −1.59 −1.95 6 MD1 90.20 88.02 −2.42 88.10 −2.33 87.92 −2.53 87.66 −2.82 87.43 −3.07 87.48 −3.02 (comp) MD2 90.49 87.73 −3.05 88.12 −2.62 88.12 −2.62 87.85 −2.92 87.76 −3.02 87.52 −3.28 MD3 90.56 87.86 −2.98 88.14 −2.67 88.40 −2.39 87.86 −2.98 87.74 −3.11 87.51 −3.37 TD1 90.58 89.40 −1.30 90.02 −0.62 90.45 −0.14 89.12 −1.61 89.11 −1.62 88.44 −2.36 TD2 90.58 89.64 −1.04 90.01 −0.63 90.31 −0.30 89.26 −1.46 89.25 −1.47 89.00 −1.74 TD3 91.08 89.80 −1.41 90.42 −0.72 90.39 −0.76 89.21 −2.05 89.31 −1.94 89.01 −2.27 Ave MD 0.00 −2.82 −2.54 −2.51 −2.90 −3.07 −3.22 Ave TD 0.00 −1.25 −0.66 −0.40 −1.71 −1.68 −2.13

It will be seen that the films of Examples 1 to 5 exhibit improved shrinkage properties under fridge conditions in relation to the comparative example.

APPENDIX 1 Regulation Concerning Tobacco and Tobacco Products Tobacco Regulation of Dec. 20, 1977

(BGBI. I, p. 2831), as amended by the 1st Amending Regulation of Oct. 26, 1982 (BGBI. I, p. 1444), §7 Para. 7 of the Additives Sales Regulation of Jul. 10, 1984 (BGBI. I, p. 897), the 2nd Amending Regulation of Mar. 21, 1986 (BGBI. I, p. 368), §9 of the TabKTHmV Regulation of Oct. 29, 1991 (BGBI. I, p. 2053), Article 1 of the Regulation of Mar. 8, 1996 (BGBI. I, p. 460), Art 21 of the Regulation Concerning the Revision of the Foodstuffs Additives Regulation of Jan. 29, 1998 (BGBI. 1, p. 230) and the 3rd Amending Regulation of Dec. 8, 2003 (BGBI. I, p. 2549)* *The obligations of EC Directive 98/34 of the European Parliament and Council of Jun. 22, 1998 concerning information procedures in the filed of standards and technical regulations (ABI. EC No. L 204, p. 37), amended by EC Directive 98/48 of the European Parliament and Council of Jul. 20, 1998 (ABI. EC No. L 217, p. 18) have been taken into account.

Based on §9, Para. I, No. 5, §20, Para. 3, §21, Para. 1, No. 1, Letter a and No. 2, in conjunction with §19, No. 4, Letter b, and §22, Para. 2, Clause 2, of the Foodstuffs and Consumer Products Law of Aug. 15, 1974 (BGBI. I, pp. 1945, 1946), in agreement with the Federal Ministers for Nutrition, Agriculture, Forestry and Economy, and with the consent of the Bundesrat, it is decreed:

§1

(1) The substances listed in Attachment 1 are approved for the commercial manufacture of tobacco products for the purposes specified therein. The approval of the substances listed in Attachment 1 Part B runs until Dec. 31, 2006.

(2) The amounts of the approved substances in the tobacco products must not exceed the maximum amounts specified in Attachment 1.

(3) The approved substances must meet the purity requirements specified in Attachment 1 and the general and applicable special purity requirements of the Additives Sales Regulation.

§2

(1) Odorants and flavorants listed in Attachment 2, No. 1, or obtained from plants or plant parts listed in Attachment 2, No. 2, must not be used for commercial manufacture of tobacco products.

(2) As an exemption from the provision of Para. 1, camphor may be used for the manufacture of snuff in an amount of up to a maximum of 2 grams per 100 grams of product.

(3) The use of decoumarinized tonka beans for snuff (Attachment 1, No. 14, Letter b) remains unchanged.

§3

(1) Aromas containing a solvent listed in Attachment 1, No. 1, Clause 2, must display the wording “Only for the manufacture of tobacco products.”

(2) For chewing tobacco, black rolled tobacco and snuff containing a substance listed in Attachment 1, No. 9, the content of these substances must be declared with the wording “with preservative.”

(3) For chewing tobacco and black rolled tobacco containing a substance listed in Attachment 1, No. 10, Letter d, and for snuff containing a substance listed in Attachment 1, No. 10, Letter e, the content of these substances must be declared with the wording “with colorant.”

(4) For chewing tobacco containing saccharin, the content' of this substance must be declared with the wording “with saccharin sweetener.”

(5) For cigars containing a substance listed in Attachment I, No. 10, Letter a, the content of this substance must be declared with the wording “colorant-delustered.

(6) The declarations specified in Para. 1 to 5 must be printed on packages, containers or other coverings in clearly visible, easily legible manner.

(7) With the exception of the cases indicated in Para. 1 to 5, a declaration of the substances allowed under §1 is not required.

§3a

(deleted)

§4

As an exception to §22, Para. 2, Clause 1, No. 2 of the Foodstuffs and Consumer Products Law, cigars may display the declaration “natural colorant” or similar wording indicating the natural condition of the wrapper if they are neither colored nor powdered and have received no other surface treatment.

§5

The Following May not be Marketed Commercially:

1. Cigars made with inserted tobacco sheets having a tobacco content of less than 75% on a dry weight basis.

2. Cigars with a tobacco sheet content exceeding 25% of the weight of the product, less the weight of a mouthpiece; for cigars with an artificial wrapper, this maximum amount is reduced by the weight of the artificial wrapper.

3. Smoking tobacco and cigarettes containing tobacco sheets with a tobacco content of less than 75% on a dry weight basis.

4. Smoking tobacco and cigarettes in which the proportion of tobacco sheets exceeds 25% of the weight of the tobacco mixture.

5. Chemically bleached tobacco products.

6. Colored cigarette tobacco.

7. Colored smoking tobacco, with the exception of black rolled tobacco.

8. Cigars with an artificial wrapper or a wrapper consisting of a tobacco sheet, provided this is declared on the packages by a clearly visible, easily legible statement “with artificial wrapper;” if the weight proportion of tobacco in the wrapper exceeds 50%, the wording “with tobacco-containing artificial wrapper” may be used instead. For cigars with a wrapper consisting of a tobacco sheet, the declaration may be omitted if the weight proportion of tobacco in the tobacco sheet is at least 75% on a dry weight basis.

§5a

It is forbidden to market commercially tobacco products for oral uses other than smoking or chewing.

§6

(1) According to §52, Para. 1, No. 2, of the Foodstuffs and Consumer Products Act, anyone who commercially markets aromas that, in violation of §3, Para. 1 or 6, are not provided with the required statement or it is not displayed in the prescribed manner will be subject to a penalty.

(2) According to §52, Para. 2, No. 1, of the Foodstuffs and Consumer Products Act, anyone will be subject to a penalty who

1. in the commercial manufacture of tobacco products intended for sale, uses

a) a substance listed in Attachment I in an amount exceeding the maximum permissible amount specified in § I, Para. 2, or in violation of the purity requirements specified in § I, Para. 3, or

b) any odorant or flavorant in violation of §2, Para. 1.

2. commercially markets or sells tobacco products for which, in violation of §3, Para. 2 to 5 or 6, the content' of a substance is not declared or is not declared in the manner specified, or

commercially markets or sells tobacco products in violation of the prohibition in S 5 or 5a.

(3) Committing an act defined in Para. 1 or 2 out of negligence constitutes a misdemeanor under §53, Para. 1 of the Foodstuffs and Consumer Products Act.

§7 Berlin Clause §8

(1) This regulation became effective on Jan. 1, 1978.

(2) Tobacco products complying with the stipulations of this Regulation in its version valid on Dec. 18, 2003 may continue to be manufactured until Jun. 18, 2004 and be marketed until stocks have been consumed.

Attachment 1

to §1

Part A Approved Substances

1. Generally approved as additives for the manufacture of tobacco products:

Aromas meeting the requirements of the Aroma Regulation

Fruits, dried fruits, fruit pulps, fruit juices, concentrated fruit juices and fruit syrups

Spices with the exception of the plants and plant parts specified in Attachment 2, No. 2

Licorice root

Licorice

Coffee

Tea and tea-like products

Cocoa and cocoa products

Alcoholic spirits

Wine and liqueur (fortified) wine

Honey

Maple syrup

Sugars as defined under the Sugar Varieties Regulation and other sugar varieties suitable for human consumption, also caramelized

Dextrins

Molasses

Starch,

Acid-treated, thin-boiling starch

Oxidatively degraded starch

Starch phosphate

The above starches also in the form of swollen starches

Kitchen salt (sodium chloride)

Drinking water

Essences containing the following solvents may also be used for the manufacture of cigarettes, cigars, smoking tobacco and snuff

1,3-butylene glycol

(Purity requirements: boiling range at 1013 millibar (760 torr): 207-209° Celsius; refractive index n(20,D)=1.440±0.0005; bromine number by the Klein method=max. 0.1; proportion of reducing substances: as for glycerol, according to the rules of the [German] pharmacopoeia).

2. Humectants:

a) For smoking tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, tobacco sheet and artificial rapper:

Glycerol (E 422)

Hydrogenated glucose syrup

(Purity requirements: clear, colorless, syrupy solutions containing hydrogenated saccharides derived from glucose syrup and suitable for human consumption; minimum D-sorbitol content: 5% on a dry weight basis.)

1,3-Butylene glycol

(Purity requirements: see No. 1)

1,2-Propylene glycol

Triethylene glycol

(Purity requirements: specific gravity 20/20° Celsius: 1.124-1.126; boiling range at 1013 millibar (760 torr): 280-290° Celsius; refractive index n (20,D)=1.4550-1.4560; ash content: less than 0.01% by weight; mono ethylene glycol content: less than 0.1% by weight)

Orthophosphohoric acid (E 338)

Glycerophosphoric acid and its sodium, potassium and magnesium compounds up to a maximum total amount of 5% on a dry weight basis

b) For chewing tobacco:

Glycerol (E 422) up to 10% on a dry weight basis of the product Hydrogenated glucose syrup

(Purity requirements: see letter a)

c) For snuff

Hydrogenated glucose syrup (Purity requirements: see letter a)

Liquid paraffin up to a maximum amount of 25% on a dry weight basis of the product Glycerol (E 422) up to 10% on a dry weight basis of the product

1,2-Propylene glycol

1,3-Butylene glycol (Purity requirements: see No. 1)

3. Glues, Adhesives and Thickening Agents

a) For cigars, rope tobacco including black rolled tobacco, tobacco sheets and artificial wrappers, as well as glue for seams, filter coverings, mouthpieces and filter (mouthpiece) coatings for

Cigarettes

Gelatin

Shellac

Collodion

Cellulose acetate

Ethylcellulose, also hydroxyethylated

Methylcellulose (E 461), also hydroxyethylated or carboxymethylated

Carboxymethylcellulose and its sodium (E 466), potassium, calcium and magnesium compounds, also methylated

Carboxymethylstarch with an etherification degree of up to 0.5, dialdehyde starch, prepared from oxidized corn starch with an aldehyde content of at least 90%

Gum arabic (E 414)

Agar (E 406)

Alginic acid (E 400)

Sodium alginate (E 401)

Potassium alginate (E 402)

Calcium alginate (E 404)

Tragacanth (E 413)

Locust bean meal (E 410)

Guar seed meal (guar gum) (E 412)

Mixtures of:

aa) aqueous dispersions of polyvinyl acetate, also partially hydrolyzed, or of the copolymers of vinyl acetate with vinyl esters of long-chain aliphatic, saturated carboxylic acids having a chain length of C₁₈ or with ethylene, and

bb) aqueous solutions of polyvinyl alcohol;

glycerol acetate may be added to these mixtures.

b) For tobacco sheet:

Glyoxal in a maximum amount of 2% on a dry weight basis of the product or Melamine formaldehyde resin to a maximum of 2% on a dry weight basis of the product

c) For smoking tobacco:

Agar (E 406) Gum arabic (E 414)

d) For chewing tobacco: gum arabic (E 414) to a maximum amount of 25% on a dry weight basis of the product

4. Whitening and combustion control agents

Aluminum hydroxide

Aluminum sulfate

Aluminum oxide

Magnesium oxide

Talc

Titanium dioxide (E 171)

Sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium compounds of carbonic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid and nitric acid.

5. Substances for artificial wrapper and cigarette paper

Cellulose containing substances listed in No. 3, Letter a, and in No. 4.

6. Substances for filters of cigarettes, cigarette tips, cigars, cigar tips and tobacco pipes

Activated charcoal

(Purity requirements: No increase in fluorescence of the solvent after a two-hour extraction with optically pure cyclohexane or benzene in a Soxhlet apparatus.)

Aluminum oxide

Cellulose acetate

Glycerol acetate as binder for cellulose acetate

Silica gel

Magnesium silicate hydrate (Meerschaum)

Polyethylene

Titanium dioxide (EI 171) up to 2% of the filter weight

Triethylene glycol diacetate

(Purity requirements: Specific gravity at 20/20° Celsius 1.110-1.130, boiling range of the major fraction from 5 to 95 mL of a 100 mL sample at 1013 millibar (760 Ton) 288-3000 Celsius, at 67 millibar (50 Ton) 195-2050 Celsius, color at most weakly yellowish, refractive index n (20,D) 1.438-1.439, viscosity 9.5-9.7 cps at 250 C, triethylene glycol diacetate content at least 97.0%, di-, tetra- and polyethylene glycol diacetate content no more than 1.2%, monoethylene glycol content no more than 0.1%, acids (calculated as acetic acid) not more than 0.05%, maximum water content 0.2%, maximum mineral content 0.01%)

Mixtures of:

a) aqueous dispersions of polyvinyl acetate, also partially hydrolyzed, or of copolymers of vinyl acetate with vinyl esters of long-chain aliphatic saturated carboxylic acids having a chain length up to CIS or with ethylene, and

b) aqueous solutions of polyvinyl alcohol as glue for gluing mouthpieces and filter (mouthpiece) covering. Glycerol acetate may be added to these mixtures.

Ethyl citrate in cigarette filters

(Purity requirements: clear, colorless, viscous liquid, odor-free, [without acid content equivalent to 20.2±0.6 mL of 0.2 N KOH/g; total heavy metal content less than 10 ppm; arsenic less than 3 ppm)

7. Substances for filter wrappers, mouthpieces and filter (mouthpiece) covering:

Paper, cardboard, cellulose

Cork and straw

(Purity requirements: must be free of contaminants, particularly Salmonella-free)

Aluminum (E 173)

Aluminum foil, also with protective lacquer

(Purity requirements: Taking into account their composition, the lacquer coatings must be dried in such a manner that no volatile fractions, and particularly no solvents, will be transferred from them to the mouthpieces. After application to an appropriate carrier material, 1 dm² of lacquered surface must not release more than

a) 5.0 mg soluble substances

b) 1.0 mg phenolic substances

c) 0.3 mg formaldehyde

d) 1.0 mg zinc ions

e) 1.0 mg organically bound nitrogen; no aromatic amines must be detectable during extraction with distilled water at 40° C. within 10 days.)

8. Substances for hot melts for gluing filter wrappers, mouthpieces and filter (mouthpiece) covering:

a) Copolymers of ethylene and vinyl esters of aliphatic saturated mono carboxylic acids with chain lengths C₂-C₁₈.

(Purity requirements: the melting index according to DIN 53735 must not exceed 500)

b) Hydrogenated polycyclopentadiene resin

-   -   (Purity requirements: The viscosity must be at least 2,000 cps         at 140° C.)

c) Microcrystalline waxes

d) Paraffins of Attachment 2 of the Additives Sales Regulation

e) Mixed styrene polymers and graft polymers from styrene, alpha-methyl styrene and vinyltoluene.

(Purity requirements: From a 3 dm² sheet weighing 10 g produced from the product, when heated to 90° C. within 24 hours, not more than 15 mg/dm2 of volatile organic substances shall be released.)

f) Polyisobutylene

g) Glycerol and pentaerythritol esters of rosin acid and their hydrogenation products

h) 2,6-Ditert.butyl-4-methylphenol

(Purity requirements: No more than 0.5% of this substance may be added as an antioxidant during preparation of hot melt from substances listed under letters a to e.)

The substances listed under letters a to g may contain only technically unavoidable residues of monomer starting materials and of any added extractable manufacturing aids.

9. Preservatives, but not for cigars or cigarettes, with the exception of cigarette seam glue and tobacco sheet:

Sorbic acid (E 200), sodium sorbate, potassium sorbate (E 202) and calcium sorbate (E 203) up to 2 grams per kilogram of product on a dry weight basis

Benzoic acid (E 210) and sodium benzoate (E 211) up to 5 grams per kilogram of product, calculated as benzoic acid on a dry weight basis

Ethyl para-hydroxybenzoate (E 214) and propyl para-hydroxybenzoate (E 216) and their sodium compounds (E 215 and E 217) up to 5 grams per kilogram of product calculated as benzoic acid on a dry weight basis

For tobacco sheets, also thiabendazole (E 233) up to 0.6 gram per kilogram of product on a dry weight basis.

If these preservatives are used in a mixture with one another, the maximum amount indicated for each substance shall be reduced by a percentage equivalent to the cumulative maximum amounts of the other substances contained in the mixture.

10. Colorants

a) For cigarette paper and for wrapper, tobacco sheet and artificial wrapper for cigars:

Humic acid and its alkali salts

(Purity requirements: These substances must not contain extractable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with three or more rings.)

Buckthorn berry extract, prepared by extracting buckthorn berries (Rhamnus cartharticus) with water

Logwood extract, prepared by extracting the heart wood of Haematoxylon campechianum with water

Yellowwood extract, prepared by extracting yellowwood (Morus tinctoria) with water

Carbo medicinalis vegetabilis [vegetable medicinal carbon] (E1S3)

Brilliant Black BN (E 151)

Cochineal Red A '(E124)

Fast Red F

Sunset Yellow S (E110)

OrangeGGN

Indigotin I (E132)

Amaranth (EI23)

Tartrazine (E 102)

and their aluminum, calcium and magnesium compounds (so-called lakes).

b) For Filter Wrappers, Mouthpieces and Filter (Mouthpiece) Covering for Cigars and Cigarettes

The substances listed under letter a as well as gold foil (E 175)

Gold bronze (copper-zinc alloy with a maximum zinc content of 15%)

Silver bronze (aluminum E173)

Calcium carbonate (E 170)

Calcium sulfate

Titanium dioxide (E 171), also mixed with mica, where the mica content must not exceed 75% and the colorant mixture must be enveloped by a lacquer binding agent.

Iron oxides and iron hydroxides (yellow, red, brown, black) (E 172)

α-(3-Nitro-5-sulfo-6-hydroxyphenylazo)-acetoacetanilide, 1:1 chromium complex, amine salt, and 4-(3-nitro-5-sulfo-6-hydroxyphenylazo)-1-phenyl-3-methylpyrazolone-5, 1:1 chromium complex, amine salt, for protective lacquer of aluminum foil, up to a total of 150 mg/m²

Coconut shell meal

(Purity requirements: must be free of foreign matter, particularly Salmonellae)

c) For Glues, Adhesives and Thickening Agents for Cigars and Smoking Tobacco:

Caramel

d) For Chewing Tobacco and Black Rolled Tobacco:

Iron (III) sulfate (ferric sulfate)

(Purity requirements as specified in the [German] pharmacopoeia)

Tannin

e) For Snuff:

Iron (III) sulfate (ferric sulfate)

(Purity requirements as specified in the [German] pharmacopoeia)

Tannin

Iron oxide, red (E172)

Carbo medicinalis vegetabilis [vegetable medicinal carbon] (EIS3)

Indigotin I (E132)

11. Plasticizers for inks and coatings used for printing on cigarette paper, cigarette filters, filter wraps, mouthpieces and filter (mouthpiece) tipping:

Glycerol acetate

12. Binding agents for printing inks and coatings of filter wrappers, mouthpieces and filter (mouthpiece) tipping:

The substances listed under No. 3, Letter a.

13. Substances for printing on cigarette paper and mouthpiece and filter (mouthpiece) tipping paper:

a) The colorants listed in the Additives Approval Regulation

b) The other substances listed above under Number 10, Letters a and b, and Numbers 11 and 12

c) Chrysoin S

Fast Yellow

Archil

Scarlet GN

Ponceau 6 R

Anthraquinone Blue

Black 7984

d) Magnesium carbonate

Aluminum oxide

Unsaturated drying oils, namely linseed oil and wood oil and the stand oils produced from them by heating.

Paraffin, fluid and viscous

Deodorized mineral oil, up to 25 vol. % in the printing ink ready for use

(Purity requirements: boiling range at 1013 millibar [760 torr]: 200-350° Celsius, all fragrances and flavorants removed.)

Hydrogenated colophonium (rosin) esters and trihydric or polyhydric alcohols of C₃-C₆ Phenol-formaldehyde-modified colophonium (rosin)

Xylene-formaldehyde-modified colophonium (rosin)

Acrylic acid-modified and/or maleic acid-modified colophonium (rosin) and their esters with trihydric and polyhydric alcohols of C₃-C₆

Alkyd resins (polyester from polyhydric alcohols and phthalic acid), also fatty acid modified; fatty acid chain length of C₆ and higher

Condensation products and etherified condensation products of purified monovalent and polyvalent, optionally alkylated phenols with formaldehyde

Xylene-formaldehyde resins and their condensation products with phenol or alkylated phenols

Fatty acid-modified phenol-formaldehyde resins, chain length of the fatty acid greater than C₆

Drying agents in accordance with German Industry Standard [DIN] 55901; salts and oxides of cobalt, manganese, iron, calcium, zirconium and cerium with naphthenic acids, saturated, primarily tertiary, monocarboxylic acids of C₉-C₁₁ and 2-ethyl caproic (hexanoic) acid. The dried lacquer film may contain at most 0.2% of cobalt or at most 0.5% of the other drying agents (each based on the metal).

14. Other Additives

a) For Chewing Tobacco:

Ammonium chloride

Potassium aluminum sulfate

Calcium chloride

Monopotassium tartrate (tartar)

Saccharin

b) For Snuff

Yeast

Edible fats and oils

Decoumarinized tonka beans; the coumarin content of the snuff at most 0.003% Ammonium carbamate (hartshorn salt)

Sodium carbonate:

Potassium carbonate

Calcium carbonate (EI70)

Ammonium chloride

Ammonium hydroxide

Calcium chloride

Calcium hydroxide

Monopotassium tartrate (tartar)

1,3-butylene glycol

(For purity requirements see Number 1)

c) For White Snuff Powder:

Ammonium carbamate (hartshorn salt)

Sodium carbonate

Calcium carbonate (E170)

Ammonium chloride

Calcium chloride

Part B Provisionally Approved Substances

1. Glues, adhesives and thickening Agents for cigars, rope tobacco including black rolled tobacco, tobacco sheets and artificial wrappers, as well as glue for seams, filter coverings, mouthpieces and filter (mouthpiece) coatings for cigarettes

a) Hydroxypropylstarch (EI440)

b) Acetylated distarch adipate (E1422)

2. Plasticizers for inks and coatings used for printing on cigarette paper, cigarette filters, filter wraps, mouthpieces and filter (mouthpiece) tipping:

a) Acetyl tributyl citrate up to 10% of the product

b) Sucrose acetate isobutyrate up to 10% of the product

Attachment 2 to §12, Para. 1 Prohibited Odorants and Flavorants

1. Agaric acid (agaricine, Acidum agarinicum)

Birch tar oil (oleum Betulae empyreumaticum)

Bitter almond oil containing free or bound hydrocyanic acid

Sassafras oil (oleum Sassafras)

Juniper tar oil (oleum Juniperi empyreumaticum)

Camphor oil

Camphor

Coumarin

Safrole

Thujone

2. Odorants and flavorants produced from:

Woody nightshade (Bittersweet) stems (stipites Dulcamarae)

Camphor wood (lignum Camphorae)

Polypodium rootstock (rhizoma Polypodii, rhizoma Filicis dulcis)

Pennyroyal (herb a Pulegii)

Quassia wood (bitterwood, lignum Quassiae)

Quillaia bark (cortex Quillaiae, soap bark)

Tansy (herba Tanaceti, worm herb)

Rue (herba Rutae)

Sassafras wood (lignum Sassafras)

Sassafras leaves (folia Sassafras)

Sassafras bark (cortex Sassafras)

Yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis)

Tonka beans (semen Toncae)

Vanilla plant (Deer tongue) (Liatris odoratissima)

Woodruff (Asperula odorata) 

1. A cigarette filter tipping film comprising a biodegradable substrate, and softener in an amount of less than 25% by weight of the biodegradable substrate, the tipping film being at least partly transparent.
 2. The cigarette filter tipping film according to claim 1 which exhibits an elongation in the machine direction of less than 15%.
 3. The cigarette filter tipping film according to claim 1 which exhibits a tensile strength in the machine direction of more than 140 MPa.
 4. The cigarette filter tipping film according to claim 1 which exhibits a Young's Modulus in the machine direction of more than 4000 MPa.
 5. The cigarette filter tipping film according to claim 1 which exhibits a shrinkage under tropical conditions in the machine and/or transverse directions of less than 5%.
 6. The cigarette filter tipping film according to claim 1 which exhibits a Haze of less than 2.15.
 7. The cigarette filter tipping film according to claim 1 which exhibits a Gloss of more than
 98. 8. A cigarette filter tipping film comprising a biodegradable substrate, and softener in an amount of less than 25% by weight of the biodegradable substrate, the tipping film exhibiting: a. an elongation in the machine direction of less than 15%; b. a tensile strength in the machine direction of more than 140 MPa; c. a Young's Modulus in the machine direction of more than 4000 MPa; d. a shrinkage under tropical conditions in the machine and/or transverse directions of less than 5%; e. a Haze of less than 2.15; and/or f. a Gloss of more than
 98. 9. The cigarette filter tipping film according claim 8 being at least partly transparent.
 10. The cigarette filter tipping film according to claim 1 wherein the biodegradable substrate is selected from cellulosic substrates, PLA substrates, starch based polymers and hydroxyalkanoates.
 11. The cigarette filter tipping film according to claim 10 wherein the biodegradable substrate is a cellulosic substrate.
 12. The cigarette filter tipping film according to claim 1, wherein the softener is present in the tipping film in an amount of less than 24% by weight of the biodegradable substrate.
 13. The cigarette filter tipping film according to claim 1, wherein the softener is selected from glycerol, propane-1,2-diol, softeners mentioned in the TVO list, and combinations of two or more thereof.
 14. The cigarette filter tipping film according to claim 1, comprising an antiblock/winding aid additive.
 15. The cigarette filter tipping film according to claim 14, wherein the antiblock/winding aid additive is provided in an amount of less than about 0.5% by weight of the biodegradable substrate.
 16. The cigarette filter tipping film according to claim 14, wherein the antiblock/winding aid is selected from amorphous silica, polyethylene glycol, antiblock/winding aids mentioned in the TVO list, and combinations of two or more thereof.
 17. A cigarette filter comprising a filtration material encased in a cylinder of the tipping film of claim
 1. 18. A cigarette comprising a smokable substance and a filter according to claim
 17. 19. A cigarette filter plug material comprising the tipping film of claim 1 when mechanically treated. 